The Empress has abandoned me? I'll support a new emperor and destroy your kingdom!

Autumn in Jiangning City, with its unique dampness characteristic of Jiangnan, clung stickily to the eaves and corners of the Imperial Envoy's residence, which was originally a separate courtyard of the Jiangning Salt Transport Commissioner's Office.

The vermilion gate was tightly shut, and the stone lions in front of it stood silent. Only a few newly replaced lanterns under the eaves swayed gently in the night breeze, casting a dim yellow glow that illuminated the heavily guarded figures of the soldiers.

Inside the camp, the main hall was brightly lit. Yun Jin sat in the main seat, with Qing Dai standing beside her.

At the lower seat, Liu Wenyuan, the Provincial Treasurer of Jiangning, Zhou Kang, the Salt Commissioner, the Prefect of Jiangning, and other local officials took their seats in turn, their faces bearing just the right amount of respectful smiles, and their words were full of flattery.

"Her Highness, on behalf of Heaven, has tirelessly toured the Jianghuai region, a blessing for all the people and a great fortune for us all!"

Liu Wenyuan cupped his hands and said in a loud voice, "Your Highness presented the 'Ten Memorials on Strengthening the People and Enriching the Country' in the capital. Your insights are truly profound and thought-provoking. After reading them, we felt ashamed but also greatly encouraged!"

"Your Highness, rest assured, under the law of the court and the diligent management of Commissioner Zhou and all my colleagues, the Jianghuai salt administration, though not perfect, is well-organized. Taxes are paid in full every year, the supply of official salt is unimpeded, and the people are all satisfied..."

"Lord Liu," Yun Jin calmly interrupted his rambling, her voice clear and melodious, not loud but enough to quiet the hall.

"I have come on imperial orders to inspect the salt administration, not to hear praises. Have you prepared the court's annual salt tax ledgers, official salt production and sales records, and detailed documents concerning salt fields, warehouses, and customs offices throughout the country?"

Liu Wenyuan's smile faltered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure: "It's all ready, all ready! It's been ready for a long time! It's just... the volumes are enormous, filling two entire offices."

"Your Highness has just arrived and must be weary from your journey. Perhaps you should rest for a few days. We will then compile a summary of the important points and present it to you, so as not to tire you out further."

"It's alright."

Yun Jin picked up her teacup and gently skimmed off the foam. "Since I have been appointed Imperial Envoy, I will do my utmost. Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), all the account books and documents will be delivered to the west wing where I am temporarily managing the affairs. I want to see for myself what this 'well-organized' Jianghuai salt administration is really like."

Her tone left no room for argument, carrying the unique authority of an imperial envoy. Liu Wenyuan exchanged a glance with Zhou Kang, his smile fading slightly, and bowed, replying, "Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."

The next few days passed calmly on the surface.

Account books and documents arrived as promised, filling the west wing.

Yun Jin stayed at home, accompanied by Grey Falcon and two clerks temporarily transferred from the Ministry of Revenue, burying himself in piles of old papers.

Liu Wenyuan and others would come to pay their respects every day, showing great courtesy. Delicacies, silks, antiques, and calligraphy and paintings were sent to the headquarters in a continuous stream, but Yun Jin returned them all on the grounds that he was "on duty and dared not accept personal gifts."

Outside the headquarters, Pang Xiaopan, disguised as "Third Master Pang," became increasingly active.

With the help of the merchant network and the money being distributed, a series of hidden clues began to emerge: a salt field manager was addicted to gambling and owed huge debts; a customs clerk took a new concubine and spent money far exceeding his salary; there was infighting in the canal transport guild, a minor leader died mysteriously, and his family disappeared without a trace...

The most crucial clue points to a fugitive kitchen worker named "Wu Laoliu".

This man was originally the head of the saltworks at Yongfeng Saltworks, the largest saltworks in Jiangning. Unable to bear the exploitation and deductions by the saltworks officials, he led a riot, which was later suppressed. His family was destroyed and he fled alone. It is said that he has irrefutable evidence that the saltworks officials colluded with salt merchants, falsely reported production, and embezzled salt profits.

After going through many twists and turns via special channels, Grey Falcon finally found Wu Laoliu, who was living in hiding, in a dilapidated fishing village outside Jiangning City.

He was a middle-aged man, worn down by life, yet his eyes still burned with the flames of hatred.

"Imperial envoy? Princess?" After hearing Grey Falcon's explanation of his purpose, Wu Laoliu sneered, his calloused hands gripping the worn-out fish basket tightly.

"Officials protecting each other! I've seen it all before! Back in the Yongfeng salt trade, I appealed to the prefectural and state governments, but it was all for naught! Instead, I was labeled a 'troublemaker' and a 'salt smuggler,' and my family was ruined! You? Hmph, you're probably just trying to trick me into revealing your true colors so you can wipe me out!"

Grey Falcon didn't say much, but placed a heavy silver ingot on the broken wooden table in front of Wu Laoliu, and then put down a copy of a document bearing the seal of the imperial envoy's headquarters, promising to protect his safety.

Finally, they took out a small, somewhat worn embroidered portrait.

"This was embroidered by your wife when your daughter Xiaoya was five years old, right? After you escaped, your wife entrusted her to the nun at Baiyun Nunnery outside the city. She is almost ten years old now, well-behaved and sensible, but she always asks her father when he will come back."

The Grey Falcon's voice was flat, yet it struck Wu Laoliu's heart like a heavy hammer.

Wu Laoliu's eyes widened suddenly. He snatched the embroidered portrait, his fingers trembling as he stroked the childlike eyebrows and eyes on it, and turbid tears streamed down his face.

After years on the run, what he couldn't bear to part with most was this only child.

"The Imperial Envoy said he only seeks the truth and will not hold past transgressions against you. If you can provide solid evidence to bring down those corrupt officials, he will guarantee your safety, reunite you and your daughter, and provide you with funds to settle down. If you do not believe me, you can go to Baiyun Nunnery now and take a look at your daughter from afar."

After speaking, the Grey Falcon waited quietly.

Wu Laoliu struggled for a long time, looking at the silver, the documents, and then at his daughter's embroidered portrait. The despair and hatred in his eyes finally turned into a desperate gamble.

"Fine! I'll trust you this once!"

He wiped his face hard, then pulled out a small wooden box wrapped in layers of oilcloth from a hidden hole in the wall under the bed and handed it to Grey Falcon.

"The actual production records of Yongfeng Saltworks over seven years, the private accounts of the salt officials and the two salt merchants 'Fulong' and 'Guangtai' dividing their spoils, and the route maps of their smuggling of government salt with the Grand Canal gang... it's all here! I risked my life for this! Is that enough?!"

Grey Falcon took the wooden box; it felt heavy in his hand.

He opened it quickly and examined it. Inside were densely packed account books, letters, and sketches. Although the handwriting was messy, the numbers, names, and dates were clearly legible, which was shocking.

"That's enough." Grey Falcon closed the wooden box and pushed the silver and documents in front of Wu Laoliu.

"Pack up immediately. Someone will come to take you to a safe place in half an hour. Your daughter will be reunited with you shortly."

However, just as Grey Falcon was carrying the wooden box and quietly leaving the fishing village, preparing to sneak back to Jiangning City to meet up with Pang Xiaopan and then secretly deliver the evidence to Xingyuan Yunjin, a sudden change occurred!